Convertible trunk



UNrTl-:D STATES PATENT FFIC.

KING .LOUIS KARO, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK.

SPECIPICA'I'ION forming part of Lettere Patent No. 391.621, datedOctober 23, 1888.

Application filed September 20, 1888. Serial No. 285,887. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, KING LoUIs Kano, of Washington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inConvertible Trunks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to an improvement in convertible trunks.

The object is to provide a trunk which may be converted into a bureau,convenient for use in traveling, and in Which an outer casing of thetrunk shall serve to protect the trunk when being shipped and affordadditional storageroom when the trunk is set up as a bureau in the room.

A further object is to provide a top with mirror-holding guides orsupports, so that the mirror may be set up and removed at pleasure.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the convertibletrunk as it appears When being shipped, Fig. 2 shows the same partiallyset up as a bureau, and Fig. 3 shows the same completely set up and thedoor opening into the auxiliary storage-room open.

A represents the inside casing of the trunk, the ends and back of whichare preferably made solid, while the front is made in skeletonframe-work style to admit drawers, a, of various widths and depths tosuit the requirements of a packing or traveling trunk. The inside casinghas an outer casing, consisting of a front, B, and ends O, hingedthereto at their lower edges, so as to ad mit of being folded overdownwardly into Vertical positions, as shown in Fig. 3, forming asupport for the inner casing. The ends f the front B are preferablycoustructed to project past in front of the edges of the ends, and areprovided with rearwardlyextending flanges or lips b, Which serve, whenthe parts are folded, to overlap and snugly secure the ends at thecorners, and when the front is turned downwardl y said lips form an edgefinish around the base of the bureau at the front. Thus when the frontand ends are turned down and the trunk set up against the wall therewill be formed the storage-chamber, inclosed on its front and ends bythe said front and end casings, B and C, which chamber is a convenientreceptacle for soiled clothes, shoes, &c. Access to this auxiliarystorage-room thus formed is obtained by a panel, b', in the frontB,which is conveniently hinged to the front on the inside and held inposition by any well-known and simple catch; or, when hinged as shown inthe accompanying drawings, its own weight will hold it closed.

The top D is hinged at the back, and is provided with a depending flangeor lip, d, which is adapted, when the top is closed, to project downover the upper edges of the front and ends and look them firmly inposition. Said top is also provided on its under side with grooves orholders d', secured thereto or formed integral therewith, and arrangedto receive a mirror, E, when the cover is raised.

When the trunk is closed for travel, the mirror may be removed andpacked in position within the trunk, where there will not be so greatliability of its being broken. There is also a stationary top, D',whic'h,when the cover is raised, forms a bureau-top, and this may berecessed, as shown at G, to receive the mirrorholder. A lock, F, of anywell-known or approved construction, is employed to secure the cover tothe front.

[t will be observed that the front B and ends O, as well as the top D,serve,when the trunk is being shipped, as protections to the innercasing, forming, together with the interior casing, a double wall aroundat least four faces of the trunk, and that when set up as a bureau threeof these protective casings form, in conjunction with the Wall of theroom, an inclosed storage-chamber, while the top supports the mirror.

The whole is as free as may be from complications, and forms aconvenient and quite inexpensive combination, while it possesses greatstrength to protect it against injury by rough handling on the road.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form andarrangement of the several parts described without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myselfstrictly to the construction herein set forth; but,

Having thus fully described my invention,

IOO

what I claiin as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a convertible trnnk, the combination, with an inner casing`provided with storagecompartments, of outer casing-sections at the frontand ends, hinged at their lower edge to the inner casing,and forming,when swung into depending position, a storage-chamber closed at thefront and ends, and a door in one of the sections to gain access to thestorage-chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. In a convertible trunk, the combination, with an inner casing, ofouter front and end casings hinged to the inner casing, a stationarytop, and a swinging top, the swinging top [5 fication in the presence oftwo snbscribing witzo nesses.

KING LOUIS K ARO.

Witnesses:

E. C. SEWARD, L. A. CONNER, Jr.

